Boylan's Butler, Hononegah's Silva have most favorable paths to titles

Wednesday

Feb 19, 2014 at 3:37 PMFeb 19, 2014 at 3:37 PM

By Jay TaftRockford Register Star

CHAMPAIGN - The road to an IHSA state wrestling title hits the home stretch for seven locals in Class 2A and 3A Thursday, with a pair of juniors having the best shot of reaching the ultimate goal.

Boylan's Alex Butler (37-3) is ranked No. 1 in Class 2A at 132 pounds, and he's been unstoppable since three early-season losses. In 3A, Hononegah's Fernie Silva climbed up to the No. 3 ranking at 145, and the only wrestler in his state bracket who has beaten him is No. 1 Larry Early of Oak Park-River Forest, who is in the opposite bracket.

"I've always known what I have to do," Silva said. "And I won't be happy until this whole thing is over and I'm the state champ."

Silva (41-4) won't face a higher-ranked wrestler until the finals - if he makes it that far. He opens against St. Charles East's Jake Mende (33-8), and if he runs the table, he should get either Early or the No. 2-ranked wrestler in his class, Hinsdale Central's Juwan Edmond (44-1), in Saturday's final.

Butler (37-3), a NIC-10, regional and sectional champion, will open against unranked Trumain Flynn (21-4) of Springfield, but could face No. 7 Branden Peshek (38-3) of Johnsburg in the quarterfinals. No. 6-ranked Noah Keefe (37-10) of Lincoln Way West is the next-highest ranked wrestler in the bracket behind Butler, and he would be Butler's semifinal challenge, if the seeds and rankings hold true.

"He's such a quiet, reserved kid, but he just expects to win, every time," Taylor said. "He has such a quiet confidence about him, and these days, you can see how intensely he wants this."

Belvidere's Justin McGady (37-8) peaked with a No. 9 ranking at the end of the year, and he is the only other area wrestler who qualified in Class 2A. He could get the top-ranked 138-pounder in the state, Lombard Montini's Vincent Turk (39-6), in Friday's quarterfinals.

Hononegah's Tyler DeMoss (39-5 and ranked fifth at 170) and Zach Benkovich (36-7 and ranked third at 160) have tough roads. DeMoss could meet No. 4 Nick Ferraro of Aurora Marmion in the second round and undefeated No. 2 Bryce Gorman of New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central in the semifinals. Benkovich could meet No. 2 Kamal Bey of Oak Park-River Forest in the second round.

Harlem's Sage Hecox (36-2) is ranked fourth at 220 and has a very favorable draw. The only top-10 220-pounder on his side of the bracket is ninth-ranked first-round foe Anthony Yanan of Wheaton (North) (39-14).

Matches begin at 3 p.m. today for the 2A wrestlers and at 5 p.m. for 3A competitors. Friday's quarterfinals are slated for 11 a.m. (2A) and 1:30 p.m. (3A), and Saturday's finals will begin shortly after the Grand March at 5 p.m.